Diane Morgan graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, major in painting. After a successful career in advertising, and as Public Art Administrator for the City of Palm Springs, she now paints full-time.
Diane is president of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society, a member of Oil Painters of America, the California Art Club, the American Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor West, and an award-winning member of the National Watercolor Society.
Formally trained in oils she now also paints with watercolor and enjoys the challenges each medium presents. Her paintings have won numerous awards including many Firsts, Best of Show and Best Local Artist
Morgan’s “Painted Poppies” was honored with the prestigious “Best of Show” award in the 2007 Coachella Valley Watercolor Society exhibition. “Cherries and Lace” was published as a finalist in the 2006 International Artist Magazine Still Life and Florals competition, and also as a finalist in the Artist Magazine’s December 2008 still life competition. “Heaven is a ‘57" won First Place at the 2009 Indian Wells Arts Festival and was a finalist in the 2009 Aaron Bros “Show us your America” competition. “Heaven is a ’57" was selected by f + w publications, publishers of Southwest Art, The Artists Magazine and Watercolor Artist as a feature in their advertising. It was also selected by Starbucks, along with two other pieces, for display in their new location at the Palm Springs International Airport.
Diane was selected as the Poster Artist for the 2009 Indian Wells Art Festival with her watercolor “Bird in Paradise.” Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, selected “Bird in Paradise” for inclusion in the Senate’s Ninth Annual California Contemporary Art Collection exhibition, on exhibition at the State Capitol during 2009-2010. It was also selected as one of only nine finalists in the 2010 Watercolor Magazine cover competition. “Hot as a Heartbeat” won First Place in the 2010 Indian Wells Arts Festival and Diane was selected as “Best Local Artist.” International Artist Magazine selected “I Love Bees” as a Finalist in the 2009 Still Life and Florals competition and will publish a feature article about her work in 2011.
“Organized Chaos” was juried into the 89th Annual National Watercolor Society Exhibition, and received the Watercolor West Award for transparent media. It was also one of only 30 chosen for the Traveling Exhibition touring the United States during 2010. Two watercolors are in the PaintAmerica Top 100 Exhibition and an oil in both the 2010 Paint the Parks and Oil Painters of America exhibitions. "California Sunset" oil was selected for the 2010-2011 Desert Symphony Program cover.
"Raindrops on Roses" watercolor was selected for the Blossom II Art of Flowers exhibition premiering at Florida's Naples Museum of Art in February 2011. Only 100 paintings were chosen out of 2300 entries from 35 countries. The show continues on National Tour through July, 2012. "Just Glorious" oil on canvas 48"x 60"was selected as the cover art of the latest OvationTV "Anthology of Friends" book of international artists.
Her work has been featured in nearly every major art magazine including American Art Collector, International Artist, Southwest Art, American Artist, the Artist Magazine and Watercolor Artist. With subjects as diverse as vintage autos, still lifes, florals and vignettes from her world travels, her audience includes the California Senate, the Palm Springs International Airport, museums and galleries in California, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming and private collections across the United States and Canada.
Her work may been seen at www.DianeMorganPaints.com